ok I have a 96 F350 5spd. its seems to be geared a little low for my tastes. I don't ever do any real heavy pulling probably 7 or 8k at the most and thats not very often. I normally just carry about 1800lbs of welding equipment in the bed and I really can't even tell its back there. ok so what I am getting at is I would like to change the gearing to get lower cruising rpms and save some fuel. my guess would be it has a 4.10 in it. how can I tell for sure? how much would 3.73 change my rpm at 60 -65 mph? where is the best place to buy and how much? what has to happen to get the speedometer recalibrated? and the last thing is how hard of a job is it?
A Gear Vendor unit would give you both options. 4.10s when you need them. Freeway gearing for the long hauls.
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Pete in San Ramon
2005 F250 6.0 Lariat 4x4 CC Short bed (stock)
1997 F250 7.3 XLT 4X4 Reg. cab (stock)
1986 F250 6.9 XLT Gone but not forgotten
yea that would be great but for the $3k that it costs I can do the gears plus so many power upgrades that it wouldn't even matter that I didn't have 4.10's anymore. I'm sure it would be great for someone who did alot of heavy haulin.
You can get 3.55 also. 250's came with either 3.55 or 4.10. You can also get a 3.73 if that is what you desire.
To calibrate the speedo is easy. It can be done in the cab. There is a procedure posted somewhere, basically you measure the tread length and ... Wait a minute ... !
Now that I think of it you will not have to recalibrate if you change gears. The speedo is read from the diff housing on the ring gear IIRC. You will have to recalibrate if you drastically change tire size though.
You can get 3.55 also. 250's came with either 3.55 or 4.10. You can also get a 3.73 if that is what you desire.
To calibrate the speedo is easy. It can be done in the cab. There is a procedure posted somewhere, basically you measure the tread length and ... Wait a minute ... !
Now that I think of it you will not have to recalibrate if you change gears. The speedo is read from the diff housing on the ring gear IIRC. You will have to recalibrate if you drastically change tire size though.
well I plan on going with 19.5" wheel and tire set up like the F450's have now, so thats why I was thinking maybe 3.73 might work good. so did all the 1 tons come with 4.10?
not all one tons, there are some 3.55 geared 350s out there, mostly srw trucks, the 3.73 is a very good wide usage gear, it has decent low end grunt with nice road manners, which is why the super-duties came with that gear, personally I enjoy my 3.55s, but I don't do alot of heavy hauling either
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1997 F-350 PSD CC SRW 3.55 5-spd 4x4 273,000 mi and counting
3.5" dp, 3.5" exh. with side-pipe, 140v IDM, DIY intake, Stancor gpr, electric fuel, DP Tuner, and high hopes www.riffraffdiesel.com
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I swapped from 4.10 to 3.55. Same reasons you are wanting too. Loving it. That was 4 years ago. Does the 19.5 bolt pattern fit on the OBS hubs? I thought they were 170mm???
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Fullcrew7.3
Dave
1996 F350 CC 7.3L PSD DRW 3.55 gears ,cat delete, 4" exhaust, SC 1705, Stage 1 DIY sticks, Valair SMF, 203* thermostat, 3" DP, SD intercooler, 17* HPOP, 37/12.50/16.5's and some more stuff
19.5" wheel? How big of a tire? If you are going low profile you will be fine with the 3.73 but if you are going regular or oversized tire or do any heavy pulling at all you will want atleast a 4.10.
I would install the wheel and tire combo first and then decide if you want a taller gear. These combos are usually taller than stock.
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Sam
Humble yourself and give thanks to GOD.
<>< Family of 7 saved by Grace <>< 95 CC Dually 3inch downpipe no muffler/cat Edge Programmer, 6637 MOD, 140v 2000 Ranger 4X4 No MODS, yet!
I swapped from 4.10's to 3.55's and I wish I had kepts the 4.10's. Doesn't pull as hard and my MPG's didn't really go up too much. It is nice for highway cruising over 65mph but if I had to do it again I'd keep the 4.10's.
Definately try the wheel and tire combo before switching though.
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Brownie, Ooh-Rah! USMC Member of the NRA!
'95 F350 CC 4x2 - SRW Swap, E40D, PHP 6 Pos. Chip, 6637 mod, 3" D.P., Lost Kitty, 140v IDM, HPX Mod, FPR Shim (65 psi), T.C. switch, 3.55 gears
'88 F350 CC 4x4 - lots of dents, faded paint, old 7.3 IDI in pieces
19.5" wheel? How big of a tire? If you are going low profile you will be fine with the 3.73 but if you are going regular or oversized tire or do any heavy pulling at all you will want atleast a 4.10.
the tire I have seen most is a 225/70-19.5 that is what the 450's have and what my cousin has on his dodge
jake, if you decide to pull your 4.10 gears let me know, I need a set for a customers truck that is on dirt roads just about all the time and towing a 6 horse goose neck trailer.
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I swapped from 4.10's to 3.55's and I wish I had kepts the 4.10's. Doesn't pull as hard and my MPG's didn't really go up too much. It is nice for highway cruising over 65mph but if I had to do it again I'd keep the 4.10's.
Definately try the wheel and tire combo before switching though.
Brownie-
What size of tire do you run? Also what are your rpm's at 60-65 mph? I ask because a good friend of mine with a 96 cc 4x4 srw is only running 1800 ish rpm at that speed. He's just running 285/75's which are a 33". His truck doesn't feel like it has the spunk it should and runs higher egt's than I'd like to see. It also feels like it's struggling to keep speed going up hills and such at highway speeds. Compared to my 95 with 4.10's and stock tires, there's a big difference in power. Also, Mine runs 400 to 500 rpm higher than his does at the same speeds.
Anyway to tell exact what it's got for gears other than the tag (if it's even there)?
__________________ 02 F350 CC Dually 4x4 118K; Forged rods; headstuds; Tymar; coolant filter; 200 Amp alt; AIH Delete; Prepump/tank mods; 5" exhaust; IDM-140; x-monitor; Leveling kit; 06 leather seats f/r; 07 upfitters; custom dash; KR boards; rhinoed - FOR SALE 95 F350 CC Dually psd auto; Tymar Intake; 3" DP; Straight piped; Western Hauler - soon to be worked over...
Anyway to tell exact what it's got for gears other than the tag (if it's even there)?
Decal on the driver's door jamb. FSM has the codes. The only two I know by heart, for '95, are C9 for 3.55 limited-slip, and 39 for 3.55 ...unlimited-slip.
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